GUWAHATI: Goalpara DFO Jitendra Kumar (IFS) has been suspended with immediate effect. The government has drawn departmental proceedings (DP) against him.
After the death of a forest official, Rajbir Ahmed, on May 29, when timber smugglers attacked the forest officials at Salpara-Duarpara Reserve Forest, the local people and organizations alleged the hand of the DFO in all illegal activities like illegal tree felling, sand extraction from rivers, etc. Even Dudhnoi MLA Jadav Swargiary raised the demand for the transfer of the DFO.
The police have already arrested three timber smugglers for their alleged involvement in the attack on the forest officials.
Various organizations demanded a magisterial inquiry to unearth the big fish behind the screen.
Sources alleged that for a section of DFOs having a nexus with miscreants, forest protection continues to suffer in the state. There are also allegations that a section of DFOs works defying the minister of the department. Such DFOs have created a system where the ministers concerned have no room for their say.
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